Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

Olga Alexeeva did not move to America when her younger sister left Russia; it was only years later that she took the opportunity to leave the country of her birth. She shares with us the memories of her younger days in the Soviet Union, the hardships, the survival techniques, and the shortages of practically everything. There were daily queues for food, and living conditions meant sharing kitchens and bathrooms with several other families. Stories of how the West was corrupt, evil, and dangerous were widely believed. The contrast when Olga arrives in the United States is earth-shattering. She takes photos of the plentiful supplies in the supermarkets; she is astounded by the ability to speak freely and the high standard of living. Having sacrificed her career as an actress, she needed to rebuild her life, first by a low-end job, then by discovering her talent for painting, and then running her own gallery. When Covid hit, she needed to start over, first by working online and then reinventing herself as a successful motivational speaker. From Russia to America is her debut book.

From Russia to America: A Quest for Purpose & Joy by Olga Alexeeva is an inspirational book with the message that you can reinvent your life, even when one path crumbles. She vividly describes her amazement upon arriving in Nashville, America, and as she slowly climbs the ladder to success, she shares the message that adaptability is the key to success. She shares with the reader her successes and failures, and, for anyone wanting to reengineer their lives, this is a book you should read. Olga also draws back the curtain on attitudes and beliefs held by the Russian people and the differences in democratic and authoritarian regimes, which make for fascinating reading. While this is a short read, the author packs in a lot of information, which gives much food for thought. I found it a very interesting book, and I think many other people will too.